It indicates, from left to right, the decreasing strength of adsorption of the various
cations. As such, the less tightly held cations are located furthest from the surface of colloids
and are most likely to be leached away or further down the profile most quickly. Conversely,
the most strongly adsorbed cations will tend to move the slowest down through the profile.
The proportion and kinds of cations adsorbed on soil mineral particles and organic colloids is
also a function of the concentration of cations in the soil solution. If the concentration of a
cation in soil solution is high, there is an increased chance or tendency for that cation to be
adsorbed.